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Microorganism Frends and Foe Notes
Microorganism Frends and Foe Notes
They can live in all kinds of environment, ranging from ice cold climate to hot
springs, deserts and marshy lands.
Microorganisms are found in air, water and in the bodies of plants and animals.
Microorganisms include bacteria, fungi, protozoa and some algae. Viruses though
different from the above-mentioned living organisms are referred to as microbes.
Viruses are quite different from other microorganisms. They reproduce only inside
the cells of the host organism: bacterium, plant or animal.
Friendly Microorganisms
The bacterium, Lactobacillus converts milk into curd.
Bacteria are also involved in the making of cheese, pickles and many other food
items.
Acetobacter aceti bacteria is used for the production of acetic acid from alcohol.
Yeast is used for commercial production of alcohol and wine by growing them on
natural sugars present in grains like barley, wheat, rice and crushed fruit juices etc.
Some microorganisms reside in the root nodules of leguminous plants. They can fix
atmospheric nitrogen from the air into the soil and increase soil fertility.
Specialized bacteria convert nitrates and nitrites present in the soil into nitrogen gas
which is released in the atmosphere.
Some microorganisms decompose organic wastes like dead plants and animals into
simple substances and clean up the environment.
Harmful Microorganisms
Disease-causing microorganisms are called pathogens.
Common ailments like cold, influenza (flu) and most coughs are caused by viruses.
Serious diseases like polio and chicken pox are also caused by viruses.
Some common diseases, their modes of transmission and preventive measures are
given below.
Foot and mouth disease of cattle is caused by a virus. Anthrax, a bacterial disease is
very fatal for human and cattle.
Food Preservation
Salts, sugar, edible oils and vinegar are the common chemicals generally used to
check the growth of microorganisms. Therefore, they are called preservatives.
Pasteurization of Milk: The milk is heated to 70°C for 15 seconds and then suddenly
chilled and stored. Such milk is referred to as. pasteurized milk.
Symbiotic bacterium: Rhizobium helps in the fixation of nitrogen with the root of the
leguminous plant. The action of lighting also helps into the fixation of nitrogen.
Algae: A group of plants which is mostly aquatic. They are autotrophs (i.e., have
chlorophyll). Their body is not divided into root, stem and leaf.
Fungi: Fungi are non-green plants. They cannot synthesize their own food. They may
be unicellular or multicellular.
Microorganisms: These are organisms that are too small and are not visible to the
naked eye. These include a virus, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and some algae.
Nitrogen Cycle: A process (cycle) by which the amount of nitrogen remains constant
in the atmosphere is known as the nitrogen cycle.
Virus: Viruses are living only inside other living cells. They are considered as
connecting link between living and non-living.